Hinge joints for display mount elements



Oct. 3, 1961 c. N. CROSS 3,002,720

HINGE JoINTs FOR DISPLAY MOUNT ELEMENTS Filed March 5o, 1959 NME IN V EN TOR. @f4/601 L /l/ @e055 tod States 'Ihis invention relates to display mounts. More particularly, the invention relates to hinge structures for display mounts constructed of paper stock for support in a generally upright display position on a dat surface such as a desk, for example.

Mounts having a facial display material supporting panel are usually provided with a leg, prop or an easellike structure which is ordinarily folded flat against the display panel assembly, but which can be rotated about a hinge line into angular relation to the display panel assembly such that a support is provided for holding the display panel assembly in an appropriate, generally upright, display position. All such display mounts hereto- :fore have required a latch, ribbon or a locking tongue to maintain the leg, prop or easel-like element in a more or less xed angular position in respect to the display panel assembly.

Display mounts of the type described, require special fabricating and assembling operations for the formation and installation of leg, prop or easel-controlling latches, ribbons or locking tongues; they largely lack means for adjusting the angle of repose at which the display panel can be supported; and latches, ribbons and locking tongues mutilate, obscure and renderinaccessible and restrict the use of surface areas of the mount which might otherwise be used to great advantage for the display of printed matter or written information.

Paper stock, such as cardboard and leatherette materials ordinarily used in the construction of display mounts, has a resilience, particularly when new, which causes it to recoil to an original state when released from bending stresses. These same materials lose their self-sustaining elastic properties when subjected to repeated flexing and bending. Therefore, these materials are not well adapted per se to serve as hinge elements in mount structures `unless their position is controlled by devices such as referred to above.

, -It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide improved hinge joints for display mounts and particularly in mounts formed of paper stock materials.

Itis a further object of the invention to simplify display mount structures by eliminating all prop latches, ribbons, locking tongues and like structures, heretofore used to limit the movement of supporting legs, props and the like, and thereby render mounts easier and cheaper to manufacture and also preserve a greater amount of their surface area for printed or written intelligence.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide hinge structures for display mounts which permit hinged mount components to be. reposed in a wide range of angular adjustments in 'respect to each other.

Furthermore, it is an additional objective to provide such hinge structures which can be operated a great number of times without showing evidence of fatigue.

The objectives of the invention are secured herein by constructing hinge joints in mount structures of flexible but substantially non-resilient materials which, under bending stress, develop no potential energy which would cause them to recoil or collapse upon release of the stress.

Specifically, it is contemplated to incorporate into the hinge line of display mount elements a thin sheet of exible ductile material which is tractable and displays a mechanical hysteresis to change of form or position after bending. Hinge joints so constructed permit the arent-'O F the assemblies.

y 3,002,720 Patented Oct. 3, 1961 ICC mount elements so hinged to each other to be angularly disposed to each other through a wide range of positions without any tendency to change from the adjusted position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be stated in the following detailed description or will be apparent therefrom, which description is to be read in conjunction with the drawing forming a part of this application, in which drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts, and in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a currently popular desk calendar mount consisting of a face panel assembly and a back panel assembly hinged to each other along a hinge line incorporating the invention herein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;'

FIG. 3 is a view showing the inturned faces of the mount of FIG. l;f

FIG. 4 is a mount similar to that shown in FIG. 1 showing, however, a simplied and modified structure',

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modied mount structure showing the invention embodied in a mount supporting leg hinge which is formed in a back panel of the mount; n

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of press-scored hinge joint structures in which the invention hereof is embodied; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a modified pressscored hinge joint structure in which the invention hereof is embodied.

The drawing illustrates a plurality of different types of mounts in which the invention is` embodied. These several forms are merely suggestive of the wide variety ofa mount forms in which the invention can be utilized to: good effect.

FIGS. 1 through 3, and also to some extent FIG. 4, illustrate a mount of the general class shown in my- Patent 2,825,516, granted March 4, 1958. lln that patent,. as in the gures named, is disclosed a display mount having a face panel assembly 10 and a substantially co extensive back panel assembly 12 hinged thereto along. a horizontal axis 14, the back panel assembly l2 constituting a supporting leg when the panel assemblies 10- and 12 are swung apart. The present invention is de.V signed specifically to eliminate the latching tongue extending between the face panel assembly andthe back' panel assembly of the above-identified patent.

In FIG.` l, the face panel assembly 10 and the back. panel assembly 12 are each composed` of a pair of cardboard panels preferably of substantially equal size folded upon each other. Thus, by reference to FIG. 2, it canv be `seen that the face panel assembly includes a card-4 board face panel 16 and a similar cardboard back panel 18. The back panel assembly l2 includes a face panel` 20 and a back panel 22. The face panel assembly 10 and the back panel assembly 12 are disposed with two of their longitudinal edges in spaced parallel relation and are then bound together by adhesively attaching to the faces thereof a decorative binding material 24 which spans the space between the adjacent parallel edges of The decorative binding material 24 is.- brought about the edges of the assemblies and terminates on the rear face thereof where a flexible liner 26 is adhesively applied to cover the rear face of the assemblies and the terminal edges of the binding material 24.

In the form of mount shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a

month-to-month calendar pad 28 is fixed tothe outer would require a latching tongue or the like, to maintain the Vstructure in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 against collapse. By resort to the present invention, however, such latching arrangements are eliminated and ready reference to the .entire inner face of the assembly structure is possible. v y i j Y In the structure of FIGS. l through 3, and as more particularly shown in FIG. 2, a thiuilexible sheet of substantially non-resilient material. 30 is incorporated in the mount structure such as to' span the hinge line 14 about which the face panel assembly andthe backpanel assembly are adapted to rotate..v Asshown in FIG. 2, the exible, ductile sheet is located between the panel boards. of which. the face panel assembly andthe back panel assembly are formed. Thus,| Vthe sheet vEl!) extends downwardly between the cardboard panels 16 and 18 comprising the'. face panel assembly lllv and also downwardlyl between theA cardboard panels 26 and. 22 constituting the back pane112. o Y Y M As stated, the ductile sheet 30 is tractable and displays a mechanical hysteresis toy change, of formpr position after bending. Any number of. s u'ch materials are available to those skilled in the art; Ductile metal sheets and foil-s have beenemployed to good advantage.- ln one specificA application ofthe structuren soft ductile aluminum sheet has demonstrated the eificiency of the invention; lIt is contemplated that the thickness of the sheet will be chosen according to the. requirements of any particular mount form and as such,r itl is contemplated that a sheet between .G03 to .020 of an inch in thickness will bei. sufficient for most. purposes. A. soft aluminum sheet, or' foil, lends itself ideally to the purposes of the inven tion, but similar soft, thin, exible sheets ofv other metals, 'such as, tin, zinc', copper or lead arev equally useful.

When the mount of FIGS. l through.v 3 is placed upon a2- surface such as a desk,y the face panel assembly itl an'dthe back. panel assembly 20 may be adjusted into a desired angular relationship to each other such as to present the calendar 28 on. the face panel. assembly at the;y proper angle for comfortable viewing. from either av seated'. or standing position.. Fur'thermore; the mount can: be opened such that tree visual.vr access to the data printed or written. on the' hner sheet 26. is quickly a'vai'lable'.

Itf. can bel seen thatl when'V reference to'v the intelligence on". theliner. sheet 26 is frequent, that the hinge line in whichfthe ductile sheet 30 is incorporated, will be subject to'.l repeated flexing. Experience has shown that when' althin, flexible metal sheet, such as above described, is used that the number' of times the hingeY structure is operated has little effect on the amount of fatigue that is shown by the joint. This isi particularly true when the thin.` flexible material is a soft metal sheet or foil. These soft.varieties of metal appear to show little or no fatigue afterre'peated flexing.

EIG. 4 shows a modification of the mount" structure oiEIGS. 1'. through 3. In FIG.' 4.a pair of panels have thin.l metal foil facing materiali which forms thevhing'e line-between the panels. Thus, a face panel`3'2y of suitablelma'terial, cardboard for example, andA a back panel 34; suitablyr of. the same material, are connected togetherby'mea'ns' of a' thin ductile metal facing material 315;i This material can suitably beA an aluminum foil, as abiove. described,v because l aluminum is readilyl available inLbrilliant. and attractivecolors and lends itselfl readily toi. embossing such that the foil orfsheet' facial surfaces ofthe-mount can bel suitably embossed. The=meta1 foil 36 in FIG. 4 is attached to the face ofthel face panel 32 and als'oto the face' of thel back panel 34 such that it spans the'Y parallel facing edges 38 andA 40 of the panels' 32j'- and3'4, respectively. A lining' material 42 is attached tothe` rear face of the' panels 32. and 34 such that it covers the inner faces of the panels 34 and 32. The liningl materialv 42 may be. suitably printed on prepared 4 for the receipt of information which requires repeated reference, and may include mounted printed sheets or a small booklet.

In the structure of FIG. 4 the Vmetallic facing is not bound about the bottom edges of the panels 32 and "341, as' in the case of they facial binding material 24 in FIG., 2, but both the facing' 3'6 and the liner 42 terminate at the bottom edges o'f the panels 32 and 34, and also by preference at the lateral edges of the' panels in the area of the hinge joint. If. desired the mount of FIG. 4 may eliminate all binding of. bottom and lateral edgeswhich adapts the same to the simultaneous cutting of multiple mount structures from large preli.ned andl pre-faced sheets of mount stock. A y

It should be particularlynoted in respect to the externally applied metal foil sheet as in FIG. 4 that there is a substantial diderence between; thermaterial herein utilized and the metal which is ordinarily employed for the formation of. the conventional metal desk calendar Y or' display mount. In. the latter structures; the metal isl substantially rigid, in most-.cases quite resilient and heavy. All of this results in a mount. structure which is apt'to scratch. surfaces onwhich it is reposed, which is costly to mail by reason oi its weight, and which frequently cuts throughl mailing eilvelopesy byv reason of sharp metal edges. -In contrast to the foregoing, the thin, iiexible ductile sheet or foilV on the face of a mount structure does not addy substantially to the weight, it' possesses no sharp edges or corners, even though the: metallic facing is turned about supporting edges of the' mount, which are apt'to scratch a. supporting surface, and it shows no. tendency to break or cut through mailing. envelopes. The desirable` hinge elfectof the flexible ductile sheetv or foil' is not present. in rigid,r self-sustaining metals and suchl metals;therefore; lend noy enhancement to the hinge operation'. When/the du'ctile metal is facially applied as shown' in FIG; 4', andy doesv not. extend about the supporting. edges of the" mount,r the' mount, when erected, will rest on the cardboard panel: edges which are so soft as to do no injury tof even the' most delicate sur"- faces.

The forms of the invention. hereinabove described. sugL gest' the use of metal sheets and foils whichI are substantially coextensive in. size with the panels or' panel assemblies joined together by suchsheets. and foils. It is not to be implied, however, thatv this is necessarily thecase. All. that is necessary is that the duttilev material be effective in the area of'the hinged joint; Thus', in those forms shown. in FIGS. 1.. through 45, the' hinge material may be considerably sho'rt'erro it may be of less width.

The `facingA sheet 36 of FIG; 4 is most effective if it covers the entire outer surface4 of' the-face panel 32, but this is not. essential nor n'eedI it! extendoverlthe entire face of the back. panel 341i Inl such case, `decorative leathe'r'ette binding. material' maybe employed to cover the cardboard' panel" or' panels in areas where the metal sheet or foil doesnotextend..

The concept of. using a: patch=l of. flexible duetile metal. is' embodied iii-FIGS. 5 andi 6. Thesegure's-represent a mount of the general class: disclosed:- inf my Patent 2,355,706, issued August 5, 1.944, which mounts" are characterized byv an supporting prp formed in thev back panel assembly. Y

InFIGS. 5 and 6afacerpanellassembly 44. and a back panelassembly 46 are'constructedof a-plurality ofsubstantially coextensive cardboardvv panels such that. adisplay. window may be formed in the face panel. assembly and. aV mount supportinggprop suchas. describedy inmy, aforesaid Patent 2,355,706Y may be formed in the back panel assembly. Accordingly, the face panel.' assembly is-.composed of aplurality'of like cardboard elements 48, 5t) andf52, while. the back panel assembly isV composedv ofV a plurality of similar.` cardboard3elements54,.56 and 58.` The face panel assembly` 44and the backpanel as sembly 46 are suitably joined together by a decorative flexible binding material 62 which is attached to and covers the facial surfaces of tite assemblies. The binding material 62 extends Iabout the edges of the panel assemblies and terminates on the rear face thereof.

It is contemplated that a lining sheet 64 be attached to the rear face of the panel assembly such that it covers the terminal edges of the decorative binding material 62 and provides a surface for data requiring recurring reference. Visual access is aforded to the data on the lining sheet 64 by forward rotation of the face panel assembly 44 about the hinge line at the bottom of the structure where the two assemblies are connected by the decorative facing material 62 and the liner sheet 64.

By reference to FIGS. and 6, it can be seen that a supporting leg 66 generally similar to that shown in my Patent 2,355,706 is formed in the back panel assembly 46 by cutting through the backboard and overlying binding material, such that the leg 66 can swing rearwardly about a hinge line 68. In order to impart the characteristics of the invention to the hinge line 68, there is incorporated into the back panel assembly a patch of thin, flexible, ductile metal sheet or foil 70 which extends across the hinge line 68, the patch 70 being secured between the panel 58 and the overlying binding material 62 so that the patch will be retained in position throughout the life of the mount.

The face panel assembly 44 may be recessed to receive a at sheet-like display object. 'Ihe utility of the invention is particularly marked when the mount is used to support a mirror, in which case adjustment of the angular inclination of the display surface must be frequent to accommodate the needs of many individuals and environments.

Reference has been made to the several hinge structures employed in the mount forms of FIGS. 1 through 4. It would be noted that these hinge connections are formed at the abutment of two physically separate panel structures. Frequently it is desirable to hinge an element in a mount structure, such as for example the supporting leg 66 of the mount form of FIGS. 5 and 6, which does not involve physically separated panels, but instead involves a scored or partially precut hinge line upon which the hinged members can rotate.

FIG. 7 illustrates a laminated structure including a flexible sheet of ductile metal in which are formed a plurality of score lines 72, 74, and 76 about which the respective sections 78, 80, 82 and 84 may rotate in respect to each other. The lamination of FIG. 7, by way of example, is composed of a leatherette facial binding material 86, a cardboard base panel 88, a thin, llexible ductile metal sheet or foil 90 and a paper lining sheet 92. When a laminated structure of the kind shown in FIG. 7 is bent about the several score lines, it will maintain its position by reason of the ductile foil or sheet component despite the fact that the leatherette binding material, the cardboard base panel and the paper liner possess substantial resilience and, therefore, tend to return to the original plane of FIG. 7.

The score lines 72, 74 and 76 of FIG. 7 are of the pressscored variety, i.e., they are formed by pressing in between suitable dies which tend to break down and deform the bers of the material of the components of which the laminae is formed. In the formation of such score lines,

it is particularly important that a soft ductile metal sheet or foil be employed for the reason that the pressure that must be applied has little or no cutting eiect on the soft foils and sheets, whereas the harder sheets iand foils may be damaged by the pressure that is necessary to form an adequate score,

Certain metals may be adversely aifected by the pressure necessary to form a press-scored hinge line, and in such cases resort may be had to the hinge line forming procedure illustrated in FIG. 8. In the case of FIG. 8, one or more mount elements 94 and 96 have a hinge line 98 formed therein by press-scoring, slotting or routing prior to assembly with the ductile metal sheet 100. In structures according to FIG. 8 it has been found that when the elements are rotated about the hinge line 98, the metal sheet or foil will crease along the preformed hinge line such that a single crease line will be formed in the metal and will be maintained therein throughout the life of the mount.

While the fundamentally novel features yof the invention have been illustrated and described in connection with specific embodiments of the invention, it is believed that these embodiments will enable others skilled in the art to apply the principles of the invention in forms departing from the exemplary embodiments herein, and such departures are contemplated by the claims.

I claim:

1. In a display mount constructed of paper stock, said mount having -a facial panel for holding display material and a prop for maintaining said panel in a display position, a hinge line along which said prop is adapted to rotate into angular relation to said display panel, and a hinge element consisting of la flexible sheet of ductile material extending across said hinge line, said ductile material hinge element being the sole means for maintaining said panel and said prop in angular relation to each other.

2. In a display mount constructed of paper stock, said mount having a facial panel for holding display material and a prop for maintaining said panel in a display position, a hinge line along an edge of said mount on which said prop is adapted to rotate into angular relation to said displany panel, and a hinge element consisting of a flexible sheet of ductile material extending across said hinge line, said ductile material hinge element being the sole means for maintaining said panel and said prop in angular relation to each other.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which said sheet of ductile material has a ductility of a sheet of aluminum having a thickness between .003 and .020 Off an inch.

4. The invention of claim 2 in which said prop is a second panel substantially co-extensive in width with said facial panel and in which said ductile material sheet extends across spaced parallel edges of said panels and is xed to a surface of each thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 408,041 Orr July 30, 1889 1,261,195 Venable Apr. 2, 1918 2,798,322 Nichols July 9, 1957 2,825,516 Cross Mar. 4, 1958 2,831,285 Cross Apr. 22, 1958 2,902,785 Nichols Sept. 8, 1959 

